First and foremost, just to address a question I’ve gotten quite a bit lately, both virtually and in real life: No, I am not engaged! The ring I wear on my left hand is one that I made in a silversmith class at camp, and have worn since I was 14. Unfortunately it only fits on my “ring finger,” and is called a Russian Wedding Ring! So… double whammy. I feel a bit odd about wearing it sometimes, but it does help prevent unwanted attention!
Per the dry-hands question, Aya came up with a good explanation: air conditioning! The air conditioning is on full-blast at work, and we keep ours on a pretty low temperature at home, too. I guess more moisturizer is the answer!
So… three weeks from this past Thursday, my dad and I will be on an airplane headed for Nice! Nice is located in southern France along the French Riviera, and my parents, grandparents, aunt and uncle make a trip there every September. They stay in the city for a few days, then venture out to the countryside where they rent a house and spend the week enjoying the fresh air, local markets, and each others’ company.
In the past, I’ve been in school or have had to work, but this year my dad offered to bring me with them for my 23rd birthday. I was lucky enough to be able to take a week off work, and could not be more excited to be going to the land of lavender!
As you may know, I come from a family of francophiles. I attended a French pre-school, grew up with my parents speaking it when they didn’t want me to understand (which I quickly countered by taking French in middle and high school), minored in French in college, and studied abroad in Paris during my junior year.
With Lyle in Giverny, Claude Monet’s garden
I haven’t been to Provence in over 10 years and am itching to get back to France. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU Mom and Dad!
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Yesterday Ari and I woke up early and headed to the gym before breakfasts. 20 HIIT minutes on the stairs later, I was happy to come home to my bowl of overnight oats.
Base (left in the fridge overnight):
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tsp chia seeds
Mix-ins (in the morning):
- 1/2 cup 0% Fage Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup cottage cheese
- cinnamon
- stevia
- 1 T Nuttzo
It’s often a great debate whether I’m in the mood for yogurt or oatmeal… but why choose or the other?!
I worked a double, and snacked on a Honey Almond Flax TLC bar halfway through the morning shift.
I took my break at 3 and raced home to heat up some Tomatoey Spiced Chickpeas, which I topped with egg whites and pepper flakes. I was starving!
I was really dragging yesterday. I just had zero energy and felt like I was about to fall asleep at any minute, which is not good when, as the host, I’m the first thing customers see when they enter our restaurant! So I whipped up another Banana Coffee Protein Shake and drank it a couple hours later. It’s amazing what a little shot of caffeine can do!
I got off at 10, at which point I actually thought I would have to start gnawing my own fingers, I was so hungry. I grabbed my free meal of the week and practically ran home, in my cowboy boots, to devour it.
- spiced grilled shrimp
- mixed greens
- cabbage
- jicama
- peppers
- avocado
- corn
- rice wine vinegar (I skipped the regular dressing and added this at home)
Recovering from my hunger-driven frenzy, I sat, dazed, in front of the TV, watching My Best Friend’s Girl (eh) and munching on a cup of Chocolate Oikos topped with a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough “Laraball,” which I hauled out of the fridge. Still good!
Either my age is catching up to me or I’m drinking more water than usual, because lately, I just can’t sleep through the night. Last night I was up at 4, and couldn’t fall back to sleep for the life of me. My grumbling tum finally dragged me out of bed again, and I munched on a Granny Smith, read a few pages of my book, got back in bed and stared at the ceiling. Bah.
Do you speak a foreign language? Have you traveled to a non English-speaking country?
Your so lucky – I spent last summer in Provence and fell in love with it, dreaming of the day when I can return. Am teaching myself french – would love to be able to speak the language, my sister used to live in Paris and I got to visit her a lot and always wished I knew french, they really don’t like it if you speak english!
Love mixing oats + yogurt, just recently started. I’m like you, I always think you should have one or the other – not anymore!!
gahhhh!!! i can’t BELIEVE you’re going to france soon! it’s seriously the number one place in life i NEED to go. ugh how amazing!
i took french in middle school just so i could go on the field trip to quebec hahaha and then continued it in hs because i had to but i can barely even speak a sentence hahah go me.
omg what an AMAZING birthday you will have!! That is so amazing! I have never been to France and hope to one day! I will live the trip through you!!! I cant wait til you go and the amazing recaps you will have!!!
Love the greek yogurt with the cookie dough ball on top! yum!
Have a great weekend love!!!!
We loved Nice – especially old Nice! Bought the most amazing balsamic vinegar there (it was from Florence where we had just come from, go figure
) and had the most tasty rhubarb gelato there!
Nope, no foreign language for me … I’ve tried french, spanish and italian and none of it seems to stick. That’s what Mario’s for
I WISH I was fluent in Spanish. I got by with the little I know in Mexico last year, but I want to get better. I went to Paris once and was absolutely lost! Loved it, but it was a bit frustrating not being able to communicate.
That’s great that you’ll get to return to France. It’s such a beautiful country.
I’ve studied Spanish and Hebrew, but don’t know either one very well anymore. But I have been fortunate to travel to many non English speaking countries, one of my favorites being India.
Oh so jealous!!! Nice is gorgeous! I went last year and the year before, and though Australia was fun this summer, I’m dying to go back to our French Riviera spot. If you get a chance, go visit Menton. It’s only about 45 min by train and such a cute place to stay! I’ve written about it if you’re curious.
That does however sound like you won’t be there when I’m in NY :\ I’m going from Sept. 14th to the 19th so if you’re in the city at all during those days, let me know, I’d love to meet up!
okay those laraballs look AMAZING!! I am totally making those. those are like the most perfect things to put in greek yog!
Lucky you going to Nice – hope you have a fantastic time!
I have studied German and French.
petit message d’une lectrice française… qui perfectionne son anglais en te lisant chaque jour ! je ne vais pas faire un message plus compliqué, le français est déjà bien assez difficile
I wish I could get that nuttzo stuff in the uk it looks soooooo good, yum! x
Congratulations on your trip! That is majorly awesome.
I have trubs sleeping through the night too (water can be the enemy!) and I’ve definitely been up mad early and my stomach is the only part of me that doesn’t want to go back to sleep. Hey, when hunger calls…
I was in Nice for about 3 days once! It was beautiful, swimming in the Mediterranean, eating delicious food, etc. I also got lost when I took the wrong bus and ended up 7 miles east of town on some island and had to walk back. It was fun, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
What an amazing trip! I can’t wait to read all about your adventures in France:)
you know my answer to this one – LOVE TRAVELING! i love new languages, food, history, people, ways of doing things, everything. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. i’ve made my way ’round Europe and Asia…now I want to go to South America!
and look at you all stylin’ in France – i am pretty sure lace-up boots, tights and with shorts and the mix are trendy right now. you are so ahead of the curve
wow ur gonna be 23!!! craziness haha <3
oh i ADORE your super cute outfit, the shorts are so pretty!!
i learnt french in school and i know a bit of it (i should probably know more being from a bi-lingual country) but maybe one day i'll take a trip to France
xoxo
ps. i totally thought of u when i baked my Fig Scuffins haha! i thought they were so cute and fabulous when i saw them on here that i needed to try out 'Scuffins' for myself <3